Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I originally studied music, but after a long an grueling process of job hunting and unemployment, I started writing to release all of my mental angst. And it really helped! Then I after 4 years of meticulous editing and re-writing I had a book I was proud of. I also have a good body of a second novel. However all my copies were lost at the same time. My laptop broke… then I dropped my hardrive…. then I moved house and lost my portable USB. Nightmare! I am hoping to recover the data as we speak
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called ”Scaff” which is a Scottish word from the Scottish dialect. It means to be someone who has nothing, who has to beg for food or money. Its an insult that I was called often as child, being in a really poor family. The word is synonemous with such words as ‘beggar’ and ‘scum’. The content of the book, however, is inspired from my two years of unemployment and the ensuing degradation, humilation and hoplessness.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Impromtu streaks in the middle of the night, often until the early morning. Manic vocal encactments of scenes and characters in front of the mirror (also usually late at night), ocassionally with constumes and props
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have read extensvely since an early age. Although, I had a particular love for Russian literature, most notably Dostoyevsky with books such as ”Notes From the Underground” but also ”Crime and Punishment”. Similarly Gogol, with his surreal short stories such as ”The Nose” and ”The Diary of a Madman” Otherwise, I also love Irvine Welsh and admire his ability to have written in a difficult Scottish dialect and yet still reach millions worldwide.
What are you working on now?
At the moment I am mostly collecting ideas and little ditties of no particular order and hoping I can retrieve my manuscript from my broken hard drive
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first time, so sorry I can’t be of much help there!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have a strict routine for when you are writing and when you are editing otherwise constantly doing both destroys the flow and makes the whole process so much longer and inefficient
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
All the great authors were rejected before they got published. Persevere!
What are you reading now?
Mostly spiritual books, ”The surrender Experiment” by Michael Singer. A book I highly recommend if you are in doubt about how to live your life. Also Alan Watts, the renowned English philosophist expecially ”Out of Your Mind”. He has changed my whole way of thinking more than any other
What’s next for you as a writer?
Turning my scripts in to film scripts and then hopefully films
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
”Out of Your Mind” by Alan Watts
”Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo
”Collected Poems” by Maya Angelou
”Complete Works of Shakespeare” by William Shakespeare
Well done Jason… I wish you tons of success.
One of the most intresting people I have worked along side.. I remember reading some of your work during my short time on Iona.